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ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORIES The energy infrastructure categories to be developed in order to implement the energy infrastructure priorities set out in Annex I shall be the following:

(1) concerning electricity:

(a) high and extra-high voltage overhead transmission lines, crossing a border or within a Member State territory including the exclusive economic zone, if they have been designed for a voltage of 220 kV or more, and underground and submarine transmission cables, if they have been designed for a voltage of 150 kV or more. For Member States and small isolated systems with a lower voltage overall transmission system, those voltage thresholds are equal to the highest voltage level in their respective electricity systems;

(b) any equipment or installation falling under energy infrastructure category referred to in point (a) enabling transmission of offshore renewable electricity from the offshore generation sites (energy infrastructure for offshore renewable electricity);

(c) energy storage facilities, in individual or aggregated form, used for storing energy on a permanent or temporary basis in above-ground or underground infrastructure or geological sites, provided they are directly connected to high-voltage transmission lines and distribution lines designed for a voltage of 110 kV or more. For Member States and small isolated systems with a lower voltage overall transmission system, those voltage thresholds are equal to the highest voltage level in their respective electricity systems;

(d) any equipment or installation essential for the systems referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) to operate safely, securely and efficiently, including protection, monitoring and control systems at all voltage levels and substations;

(e) smart electricity grids: any equipment or installation, digital systems and components integrating information and communication technologies (ICT), through operational digital platforms, control systems and sensor technologies both at transmission and medium and high voltage distribution level, aiming to ensure a more efficient and intelligent electricity transmission and distribution network, increased capacity to integrate new forms of generation, energy storage and consumption and facilitating new business models and market structures, including investments in islands and island systems to decrease energy isolation, to support innovative and other solutions involving at least two Member States with a significant positive impact on the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective, and to contribute significantly to the sustainability of the island energy system and that of the Union;

(f) any equipment or installation falling under energy infrastructure category referred to in point (a) having dual functionality: interconnection and offshore grid connection system from the offshore renewable generation sites to two or more Member States and third countries participating in projects on the Union list, including the onshore prolongation of this equipment up to the first substation in the onshore transmission system, as well as any offshore adjacent equipment or installation essential to operate safely, securely and efficiently, including protection, monitoring and control systems, and necessary substations if they also ensure technology interoperability, inter alia, interface compatibility between various technologies (offshore grids for renewable energy);

(2) concerning smart gas grids: any of the following equipment or installation aiming to enable and facilitate the integration of a plurality of low-carbon and particularly renewable gases, including biomethane or hydrogen, into the gas network: digital systems and components integrating ICT, control systems and sensor technologies to enable the interactive and intelligent monitoring, metering, quality control and management of gas production, transmission, distribution, storage and consumption within a gas network. Furthermore, such projects may also include equipment to enable reverse flows from the distribution to the transmission level, including the related physical upgrades if indispensable to the functioning of the equipment and installations for integration of low-carbon and particularly renewable gases;

(3) concerning hydrogen:

(a) pipelines for the transport, mainly at high pressure, of hydrogen, including repurposed natural gas infrastructure, giving access to multiple network users on a transparent and non-discriminatory basis;

(b) storage facilities connected to the high-pressure hydrogen pipelines referred to in point (a);

(c) reception, storage and regasification or decompression facilities for liquefied hydrogen or hydrogen embedded in other chemical substances with the objective of injecting the hydrogen, where applicable, into the grid;

(d) any equipment or installation essential for the hydrogen system to operate safely, securely and efficiently or to enable bi-directional capacity, including compressor stations;

(e) any equipment or installation allowing for hydrogen or hydrogen-derived fuels use in the transport sector within the TEN-T core network identified in accordance with Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (). Any of the assets listed in points (a) to (d) may be newly constructed or repurposed from natural gas to hydrogen, or a combination of the two;

(4) concerning electrolyser facilities:

(a) electrolysers that:

(i) have at least 50 MW capacity, provided by a single electrolyser or by a set of electrolysers that form a single, coordinated project;

(ii) the production complies with the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions savings requirement of 70 % relative to a fossil fuel comparator of 94 g CO2eq/MJ as set out in Article 25(2) and Annex V to Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions savings are calculated using the methodology referred to in Article 28(5) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 or, alternatively, using ISO 14067 or ISO 14064-1. The life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions must include indirect emissions. Quantified life-cycle greenhouse gas emission savings are verified in line with Article 30 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 where applicable, or by an independent third party; and (iii) have a network-related function, particularly with a view to overall system flexibility and overall system efficiency of electricity and hydrogen networks;

(b) related equipment, including pipeline connection to the network;

(5) concerning carbon dioxide:

(a) dedicated pipelines, other than upstream pipeline network, used to transport carbon dioxide from more than one source, for the purpose of permanent geological storage of carbon dioxide pursuant to Directive 2009/31/EC;

(b) fixed facilities for liquefaction, buffer storage and converters of carbon dioxide in view of its further transportation through pipelines and in dedicated modes of transport such as ship, barge, truck, and train;

(c) without prejudice to any prohibition of geological storage of carbon dioxide in a Member State, surface and injection facilities associated with infrastructure within a geological formation that is used, in accordance with Directive 2009/31/EC, for the permanent geological storage of carbon dioxide, where they do not involve the use of carbon dioxide for the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons and are necessary to allow the cross-border transport and storage of carbon dioxide;

(d) any equipment or installation essential for the system in question to operate properly, securely and efficiently, including protection, monitoring and control systems.